Woman turns her house into a sanctuary for senior dogs

Thanks to Sher Polvinale and her team of volunteers, elderly dogs in Gaithersburg, Maryland, now have a loving and caring home for life.

The House with a Heart Senior Pet Sanctuary is a retirement home for nearly two-dozen dogs. Polvinale, the facility’s director, and her team of volunteers provide much-needed care for several dogs as they live out their final days. including washing, feeding, medication and vet visits.

“Those dogs come to stay with us and there’s no worry they’re going to be passed along again. This is the end but it’s a happy end,” said Polvinale in the video.

In 2006, Polvinale and her late husband, Joe, turned their home into a senior pet sanctuary. After her husband passed away, Polvinale continues to run the sanctuary.

According to the sanctuary’s website, these pets have little chance of being adopted because of their age and various medical conditions.

Polvinale ensures that all the animals enjoy their stay at what likely will be their last home. In fact, she admits in the video that she only leaves the house about four times a year in order to spend as much time as possible with the animals.

But taking care of these elderly dogs certainly isn’t cheap. Just one dog cost her $8,000 in medical expenses, according to Polvinale. Yet through the help of generous donors, her team is able to spare no expense.

“We have dogs come to live with us until the end of their life,” said Polvinale. “And we make sure that the end of their life is full of love and care, lots of attention and make sure they get all the medical care they need.”

When the dogs do finally pass away, they are never alone and “loved till the last moment and beyond.”